Kiko’s Tabernacles

Has one of Kiko Arguello’s double decker tabernacles made it into your parish yet?

While Catholics should not doubt that Jesus Christ is present among us when the Gospel is proclaimed in the Liturgy (CCC 1088), would it be proper for us to prostrate ourselves in front of the Book of the Gospels in worship? Of course not. We venerate that book, not worship it.

Take a look, then, at these tabernacles in the Neocatechumenal Way’s palatial headquarters in Galilee, Domus Galilaeae, and other places. You can see that each tabernacle is two-storied, with a sanctuary lamp on either side. The top story holds the book of the Gospels, while the bottom holds the Blessed Sacrament. The door of the tabernacle closes on both.

This picture is from http://neomerkaba.com/Wordpress/?lang=it, an an online store for Neocatechumunal supplies.

Kiko’s Tabernacle at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Guam.His back to the Blessed Sacrament, using a humeral veil with the Book of the Gospels.

What is wrong here?

While we Catholics worship the Blessed Sacrament reserved in a tabernacle, we do NOT worship a bible, and while Jesus is “truly, really, and substantially” present under the appearances of bread and wine, [CCC 1374 and following], He is NOT present “under the appearances of paper and ink” of a Gospel book. Instead, as we have said, He is present in the proclamation of the Gospel.

The official teaching of the Church is that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is unique, and Kiko’s blurring of the distinction between Christ’s modes of presence, if not heretical, is deeply problematic for this reason: his followers, under the influence of the powerful image of these tabernacles, might well come to believe that the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is as symbolic as His presence in the Gospel book placed above it.

What is the practice here in Guam? While the un-consumed Sacred Species are solemnly placed in a ciborium (or ciboria) for consumption at other Masses, is a Bible also inside our tabernacles here in Guam? I am not aware that a Bible is inside the tabernacle as well! Would you please explain.

A vigil lamp is lit 24-7 to signify the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Do churches run by Neo priests here in Guam still follow that practice? I had assumed that there is no Sacred Species in the tabernacles, since the NCW teaches that Christ is only present symbolically “in the community”. So what do they do with unconsumed Sacred Hosts? Are they simply discarded?

I had read somewhere in one of the articles in the Internet of a major NCW gathering in New York where after the function (their “Mass”) hosts were found scattered all over the floor, and even had to be swept up with the other trash comes cleanup time. Was this story true?

In my recollection, all of what’s left, (I did not know, at the time, of kilo’s teaching on the “ceremonial aspect only” for the body and blood of Our Lord), is passed around until it’s all gone…Hmm, did they leave that teaching out or was I not listening attentively? Because so many are still the thumps of the neos. I wonder whether this aspect of the Eucharist is not explained to keep the poor souls in the dark about their questionble teachings and ceremonies.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Notify me of new posts by email.

"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know Himself..." Pope John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, 1998